Closings

Severe Weather

Photo Tour: Go inside Pennsylvania's execution chamber

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provided these images of death row. The execution complex is at Rockview, which is near State College, Pa.

The execution complex is in a former field hospital. "The building, which is located on prison grounds, was renovated into a maximum-security building which will house capital cases for a short period of time just prior to execution," DOC states on its Web site.

The complex is outside the perimeter of the main prison. Officials say that arrangement makes it safer for witnesses attending executions.

Inmates in Pa. are executed by lethal injection. In November 1990, Gov. Robert P. Casey signed legislation changing Pennsylvania's method of capital punishment from electrocution to lethal injection.

The state will not identify specifically those who carry out the lethal injection. It does say, "The Department of Corrections engages the services of individuals technically competent by virtue of training or experience to carry out the lethal injection procedure."

The current execution method in Pa. is lethal injection.

Witnesses can watch the execution in this room.

The last person executed in Pennsylvania was Gary Heidnik. On July 6, 1999, he was executed by lethal injection. He had been convicted and given two death sentences in July 1988 for murdering two women he had imprisoned in his home. At his conviction, he was also convicted of six counts of kidnapping, five counts of rape, four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

One item most death row inmates get to request before they take their final walk is a last meal. Find out about the famous last meals the condemned experienced before they said their final words, and how states have changed the rules about last meals.

The former field hospital now used for executions had to undergo renovations before it could be used for executions. The perspective in this image is from the standpoint of those administering the injection. They are in a separate room with this viewing window into the execution chamber.

According to the DOC, "The two-story building was renovated to include three cells, cell furniture, an electronic monitoring system, phones, floor covering, a new climate control system and locking mechanisms. Some items -- including tables, chairs and the bullet-proof glass room divider -- were transferred from the old complex. The actual execution procedure will be carried out on the first floor. Additional office space is also available on the second floor for other prison-related purposes."

Condemned inmates are permitted "their bedding -- a mattress, pillow, blanket and sheets; a towel and a bar of soap; institutional clothing; legal papers; limited religious materials; some personal photos; and certain consumable items -- such as cigarettes, toothbrush and toothpaste, writing implements -- which are provided as needed and returned to the officer if not consumed. Reading material is also provided as requested, one item at a time. A TV or radio may be located on a stand outside the cell, if requested," according to the DOC.

The meals the condemned inmate will eat while at SCI Rockview will be the same as eaten by the rest of the inmate population, except the individual will be permitted to request one special meal from a menu of available items, the DOC states on its website.

Presently, the scheduled time for all executions is 7 p.m. on the day designated by the governor's warrant.

An open phone line is maintained between SCI Rockview and the Governor's Office to receive word of any last minute reprieves. That information would then be immediately given to SCI Rockview's deputy superintendent for facility management who is on an open phone line in the injection room throughout the procedure.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.